MPHN clinical programs and emergency response manager Peta Anderson demonstrates how to use an asthma puffer. Photo: Erin Hee.
The Riverina Thunderstorm Asthma Collaborative (TAC) has launched its spring thunderstorm asthma campaign to remind residents to have an asthma action plan in place, even if they don’t have asthma.
Thunderstorm asthma events are rare and occur when weather conditions cause rye grass pollen to break into tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs.
Symptoms include wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing and coughing, and may become life-threatening.
While people with asthma or hay fever are most at risk, it can also affect those with no previous respiratory issues.
Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) senior environment officer Tony Burns advises people to see their GP if they have concerns about their health, or show symptoms such as breathing difficulties or severe hay fever, and to stay indoors during severe weather alerts.
“People may not know that they have asthma,” Mr Burns said.
“So if this is a trigger, it may not be something they would suddenly be aware of.”
In the event someone needs to go out during a thunderstorm, wearing a face mask can help if worn correctly.
“Evidence shows that a lot of people don’t even know how to wear a mask properly,” Charles Sturt University Associate Professor in Immunology Thiru Vanniasinkam said.
“Secondly, it’s the quality of the mask, and what kind of mask is it.
“All of these things can actually make a difference.”
Peta Anderson showing mock airways not affected by asthma vs those that are. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
NSW Ambulance’s Eamonn Purcell warned bystanders to call triple zero if they saw someone struggling to breathe.
“An acute asthma attack can kill someone in minutes,” he said.
“Even if you do have an asthma puffer and you’re using medications, don’t wait for it to work.
“If you think you’re going to progress down a severe asthma event, you need to ring triple-0 immediately.”
Have an asthma action plan ready. Photo: Erin Hee.
MLHD disaster manager Denise Garner said all local hospitals were on high alert during thunderstorm asthma season.
“They don’t routinely have extra staff, but certainly have extra supplies and resources on-site and a process where they call extra staff in should they need it,” she said.
“It’s rare to have to admit somebody. You can generally get them under control fairly quickly.
“It’s just they’ve often never had breathing difficulties before, and they come in quite panicked.”
She also confirmed that if someone had trouble breathing and needed to be moved, they would be taken by a state ambulance.
Their care stays the same whether they’re in the hospital, the ambulance, or a larger hospital.
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) clinical programs and emergency response manager Peta Anderson urged residents to organise an asthma action plan.
“Some people moved to this area and never had asthma before,” she said.
“There’s different problems and things around that trigger different people differently. So go and see your GP, your pharmacist and have an asthma action plan put in place.
“If they see that their symptoms are progressing and they’re feeling unwell, they can go and see their GP or the pharmacist and if it starts to progress quickly, ring triple zero.”
The collaborative encourages all residents to stay informed by registering for local thunderstorm asthma alerts. Learn more about an asthma action plan here.
